In Pictures: International Women's Day

Rallies staged across the globe to highlight the situation of women and call for improvement of their rights.

08 Mar 2014 18:46 GMT

International Women's Day dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and has been observed by the United Nations since 1975.

According to the UN, March 8 is a day when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to nationality, ethnicity, language, economics or politics. It is also an occasion to call for further change.

Indian college girls performed a street play on violence against women in New Delhi.

AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal

Thousands of women also marched in Beirut, Lebanon, demanding a law to protect women from domestic violence.

EPA/NABIL MOUNZER

A member of the Afghan national weightlifting team performed during a celebration of International Women\(***)s Day in Kabul.

Omar Sobhani/Reuters

Greek feminists and cleaning women who have been suspended on reduced pay pending transfer to other public sector jobs or dismissal demonstrated in Athens.

AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis

Men in Hong Kong wore high-heel shoes during an walkathon event to raise awareness on violence against women and promote gender equality.

EPA/ALEX HOFFORD

Activists in the Philippines marched in the capital, Manila, accusing President Benigno Aquino III of having neglected women and their families.

AP Photo/Aaron Favila

More than 10,000 people formed the symbol for "female" in Manila, expected to make it into the Guinness World Records.

Romeo Ranoco/Reuters

Palestinian women in Gaza used an International Women\(***)s Day rally to call for a reconciliation between the political movements Hamas and Fatah.

AP Photo/Hatem Moussa

The General Union of Syrian Women held a rally in support of President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

Khaled Al-Hariri/Reuters

Hundreds of people participated in a march in Santiago, Chile.

EPA/SEBASTIAN SILVA

Indian college girls performed a street play on violence against women in New Delhi.

AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal

Thousands of women also marched in Beirut, Lebanon, demanding a law to protect women from domestic violence.

EPA/NABIL MOUNZER

A member of the Afghan national weightlifting team performed during a celebration of International Women\(***)s Day in Kabul.

Omar Sobhani/Reuters

Greek feminists and cleaning women who have been suspended on reduced pay pending transfer to other public sector jobs or dismissal demonstrated in Athens.

AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis

Men in Hong Kong wore high-heel shoes during an walkathon event to raise awareness on violence against women and promote gender equality.

EPA/ALEX HOFFORD

Activists in the Philippines marched in the capital, Manila, accusing President Benigno Aquino III of having neglected women and their families.

AP Photo/Aaron Favila

More than 10,000 people formed the symbol for "female" in Manila, expected to make it into the Guinness World Records.

Romeo Ranoco/Reuters

Palestinian women in Gaza used an International Women\(***)s Day rally to call for a reconciliation between the political movements Hamas and Fatah.

AP Photo/Hatem Moussa

The General Union of Syrian Women held a rally in support of President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.